New York county approves regulation making it against the law for animal abusers to personal pets

[ad_1] Legislators in Suffolk County, New York , strengthened an animal cruelty regulation by making it against the law for convicted animal abusers to personal pets.

The county legislature voted final week to ascertain a Class A misdemeanor for folks on the county's convicted animal abuser registry discovered to be proudly owning pets, in accordance with the New York Publish. The brand new addition to the regulation carries penalties of as much as a 12 months in jail or a $1,000 advantageous.

This expands on a regulation the legislature enacted in 2010 that created an animal abuse registry, which requires convicted animal abusers so as to add their identify and make contact with data. The 2010 regulation was among the many first of its type within the U.S.

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Legislators in Suffolk County, New York, strengthened an animal cruelty regulation to make it against the law for folks convicted of animal abuse to personal pets. (Getty Photos)

County Government Ed Romaine signed the expanded laws on Wednesday after telling reporters final week that it'll "defend animals," in accordance with the NYP.

"Don't abuse animals," he stated. "We are going to go after you, and we are going to prosecute you, and we are going to defend our animals."

The Suffolk County Police Division and district legal professional’s workplace preserve the registry, which presently lists 30 convicted animal abusers. Offenders stay on the registry for 10 years until they're convicted of animal abuse once more, at which level the 10-year timer begins over.

Whereas anybody convicted of animal abuse within the county was already prohibited from owning a pet , there have been no penalties for violating the rule.

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The county legislature voted to ascertain a Class A misdemeanor for convicted animal abusers within the space who're discovered to be proudly owning pets. (Getty Photos)

"We're lastly in a position to shut this loophole and additional defend our animals," stated Suffolk Legislator Stephanie Bontempi, who sponsored the laws. "In Suffolk County, we won't tolerate the abuse or neglect of animals. By closing this loophole, we are going to be sure that these offenders who disregard the regulation will face penalties."

"It’s one thing that shouldn’t even be a problem, however I’m glad we have been in a position to get this laws on the books," she added.

The expanded regulation was signed simply days after dozens of lifeless cats have been discovered inside a Lengthy Island house, together with in a freezer and a field spring. Different felines have been discovered alive on the poorly maintained property, which had urine and feces on the flooring and partitions, amongst different issues.

Suffolk Legislator Stephanie Bontempi sponsored the laws. (Getty Photos)

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Roy Gross, chief of Suffolk County's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, welcomed the brand new regulation after years of preventing for stronger penalties.

"For the primary time, we even have the ability to take motion towards repeat offenders — earlier than, our fingers have been tied," he instructed Newsday.